Trade unionists hold May Day march

A large crowd of "good-natured" protesters today gathered in central London for the TUC-led May Day march.

Up to 10,000 people had been expected to walk from Clerkenwell Green to Trafalgar Square where there was expected to be a rally addressed by union leaders and MPs as well as former MP Tony Benn.

Activists assembled at the starting point, many waving banners and placards and handing out leaflets.

Police officers were surrounding the green and walking among protesters.

Superintendent Michael Johnson said it was very difficult to gauge the numbers of people who had turned out for the march. But he reckoned the atmosphere was good-natured and he was not expecting any trouble.

He said: "The weather always has an effect. More people turn out if it is nice and sunny.

"It is a very good-natured march, there has been lots of co-operation from the organisers for this particular march and we do not anticipate any problems."

For the first time members of the anti-globalisation movement joined in the march.

Globalise Resistance activist Despina Mavrou said: "It is the first year Globalise has been at this march. I think there are more and more people coming by the minute, so it's very encouraging. It's a very festive atmosphere.

"What we want to see is a united movement and the trade unions are part of that movement and they are fighting with us on many issues."

Also for the first time members of the International Union of Sex Workers joined the event.

Union member Monica Paladin, 25, from Italy, who now lives in London, turned up in frilly red underwear supporting the slogan Sex Workers Pride.

She said: "We are very happy to be here because it's the first time we have been part of it."

Another spokesman for the group, Alastair Alexander, said he hoped the event would help raise the profile of their cause at the centre of which is the issue of legalisation of

prostitution.

Eighty-year-old Ellen Luby, from Clerkenwell is a veteran of May Day marches.

The Jewish/Irish woman, wearing a Pensioners Deserve Better badge, has been coming to May Day marches since she was 14 years old.

She said she had turned out today for the sake of the young people who she claimed were not getting enough help from the Government.

She said: "I am concerned about the young people's country today, privatisation and students in thousands of pounds of debt trying to study. But I always came out to support anything to do with the workers fighting for their rights."